Miniature rose plant named &#34;Meigenpi&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Miniature rose plant is provided which forms attractive bright yellow blossoms commonly with a margin of orange-red on the outer petals. When grown outside, more orange-red coloration commonly is displayed on the outer petals. The first blooming commonly occurs early in the season. A bushy growth habit is displayed. Very dense medium green semi-glossy foliage is formed. Good tolerance to diseases has been observed particularly with respect to  Botrytis.  The plant is well suited for pot forcing under greenhouse growing conditions to form a distinctive gift plant.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Miniature Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘Meigenpi’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Miniature rose plant was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the new variety was the ‘Meitomkin’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the product of the cross of the ‘Savalife’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and the ‘Meivoufal’ variety (U.S. Plant Patent Application No. 10/844,340, filed May 13, 2004). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ‘Meitomkin’×(‘Savalife’×‘Meivoufal’).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Miniature rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit,     -   (b) forms attractive bright yellow blossoms commonly with a         margin of orange-red on the outer petals,     -   (c) forms very dense medium green semi-glossy foliage, and     -   (d) is well suited for pot forcing under greenhouse growing         conditions.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. The first blooming commonly occurs early in the season. It is particularly well suited for pot forcing under greenhouse growing conditions to form a distinctive gift plant. It also can be grown to advantage outside, such as along walkways and in mixed border plantings. The bright yellow blossoms commonly initially display red undertones that transform to orange-red on the outer petal margins when opening. When grown outside, more orange-red coloration commonly is displayed on the petals.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in France by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned methods as performed in the South of France has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictly transmissible from one generation to another.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. For instance, the ‘Meitomkin’ variety displays a considerably taller growth habit and the ‘Savalife’ variety forms smaller foliage. Also, the blossoms of the ‘Meivoufal’ are smaller and lack orange-red coloration at the margins of the outer petals.

The new variety has been named ‘Meigenpi’, and is being marketed under the RAINBOW SUNBLAZE trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety were one year of age and were observed during September while growing on Rosa froebelii rootstock in greenhouses at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are shown at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1 — illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 — illustrates specimens of two floral buds before the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 3 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 4 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the petals;

FIG. 5 — illustrates a specimen of a flower during the course of opening;

FIG. 6 — illustrates a specimen of an open flower — plan view — obverse;

FIG. 7 — illustrates a specimen of an open flower — plan view — reverse;

FIG. 8 — illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower — plan view — obverse;

FIG. 9 — illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower — plan view — reverse;

FIG. 10 — illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 — illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 — illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 — illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets — plan view — upper surface;

FIG. 15 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets — plan view—upper surface;

FIG. 16 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets — plan view — upper surface; and

FIG. 17 — illustrates a cluster of buds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based on the observation of one year-old specimens of the new variety which were observed during September while growing on their own roots in greenhouses at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Miniature. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—approximately 25 to 30 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Width.—approximately 25 cm on average at the end of the             growing season.         -   Habit.—bushy. -   Branches:     -   -   Color.—young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 144A. — adult             wood: near Yellow-Green Group 146C.         -   Thorns.—size and quantity: on young stems, approximately 4             on average having a length of approximately 0.4 cm over a             stem length of 10 cm, and on adult stems approximately 6 on             average having a length of approximately 0.5 cm over a stem             length of 10 cm. — color: on young stems pinkish, near             Yellow-Green Group 145C, and on adult near Yellow-Green             Group 146D. — configuration: rather straight and very             longish, pointed on the upper surface, slightly concave on             the under surface, and narrow at the base. -   Leaves:     -   -   Petioles.—upper surface: non-glandular, and near Green Group             137B on the upper surface. — under surface: bear a very few             prickles and near Yellow-Green Group 144A in coloration. —             size: approximately 2 cm in length on the terminal leaflet.         -   Stipules.—adnate, pectinate, rather broad, smooth,             approximately 1.4 cm in length on average, approximately 0.5             cm in width on average, near Yellow-Green Group 144B on the             upper surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 144A on the under             surface.         -   Leaflets.—number: 3, 5, and 7 (most often). — shape: with a             pointed tip and an obtuse base (as illustrated). — texture:             rather thick. — serration: small and single. — general             appearance: very dense, medium green and semi-glossy. —             size: terminal leaflets commonly measure approximately 3.5             cm in length on average and approximately 2.7 cm in width on             average. — color (young foliage): upper surface: near Green             Group 137B. under surface: near Green Group 138B. — color             (mature foliage): upper surface: near Green Group 137C.             under surface: near Green Group 138B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly approximately 1 to 5 flowers per             stem, commonly in clusters.         -   Peduncle.—smooth, near Green Group 138B in coloration,             approximately 2.5 cm in length on average, and approximately             0.2 cm in diameter on average.         -   Sepals.—upper surface: smooth, and near Green Group 138B and             138C in coloration. — under surface: smooth, and near Green             Group 138B in coloration. — shape: narrow, longish-pointed             at the tip, incurved at the base, and bear some weak             foliaceous extensions. — length: approximately 2.7 to 3 cm             on average. — width: approximately 0.6 cm on average.         -   Buds.—shape: conical. — size: approximately 1.8 cm in length             on average, and approximately 1.5 cm in width on average. —             color: as the calyx breaks on the upper surface, near Yellow             Group 13A slightly margined with Orange-Red Group 33B on the             external petals, and on the under surface near Yellow Group             13B.         -   flower.—form: double and flat cup-shaped. — diameter:             approximately 5 to 6 cm on average when fully open. — color             (when opening begins): upper surface: near Yellow Group 13A             and widely margined with Orange-Red Group 33B on the             external petals. under surface: near Yellow-Group 13A and             slightly margined with Orange-Red Group 33B on the external             petals. — color (when blooming): upper surface: near Yellow             Group 13B and 13C and widely margined with Red Group 55B and             Orange-Red Group 33B on the external petals. under surface:             near Yellow Group 13B and 13C and slightly margined and             suffused with Red Group 55B and Orange-Red Group 33B on the             external petals. — basal petal spot: none observed. —             discoloration: very slight with age. — fragrance: none. —             anthers: near Yellow-Group 9A in coloration, regularly             arranged around the styles, and approximately 0.1 cm in size             on average. — stamen number: approximately 39 on average. —             filaments: near Yellow Group 9D in coloration, and             approximately 0.2 cm in length on average. — pollen: present             and near Yellow Group 9A in coloration. — pistil number:             approximately 70 on average. — stigmas: near Red Group 54C             in coloration, and approximately 0.1 cm in size on average.             — styles: near Yellow-Green Group 150D in coloration, and             approximately 0.2 cm in length. — petal number:             approximately 57 to 70 on average under normal growing             conditions. — petal arrangement: imbricated. — petal shape:             possess an obtuse base and a reflexed tip. — petal size:             approximately 1.6 to 1.9 cm in length on average, and             approximately 1.5 cm in width on average. — petal texture:             consistent. — petal drop: good, the petals commonly detach             cleanly before drying. — petaloids: none observed. —             receptacle: near Green Group 138B in coloration,             funnel-shaped in cross section, and approximately 0.7 cm in             length and width. — hips: none observed. — lasting quality:             approximately three weeks on the plant on average, and             approximately 12 days on average when cut and placed in a             vase. -   Development     -   -   Vegetation.—strong.         -   Blooming.—abundant.         -   Tolerance to diseases.—good, especially with respect to             Botrytis.         -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—none.         -   Aptitude to forcing.—excellent. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Miniature rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit, (b) forms attractive bright yellow blossoms commonly with a margin of orange-red on the outer petals, (c) forms very dense medium green semi-glossy foliage, and (d) is well suited for pot forcing under greenhouse growing conditions; substantially as herein shown and described. 